Blue Devils Conclude Day One at Windy City Collegiate Classic

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. – The sixth-ranked Duke women’s golf team opened action Monday at the Windy City Collegiate Classic with 36 holes at the 6,442-yard, par-72 Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill.

Duke was one of only six teams to finish 36 holes on Monday due to darkness. The Blue Devils are currently in fifth overall after posting scores of 300 and 297 for a 21-over, 597.  Southern California opened action with a 4-over, 580, to lead the team portion.  South Carolina (+14) and Oregon (+15) did not finish its rounds, while Michigan (593) and Duke (597) round out the top-five teams.  

How It Happened

•    Duke opened action on hole No. 10 in both rounds.  

•    After a first round that featured only one birdie and finishing with a 77, junior Anne Chen came back to post an even-par, 72, in round two.  In the afternoon, she opened with four birdies over her first 10 holes to move to 4-under-par for the day.  Chen collected birdies on No. 10, No. 14, No. 18 and No. 1.  She closed the round with four bogeys over her final six holes to finish with a 72.  Chen is tied for 19th with a 149.

•    Sophomore Rylie Heflin opened her morning with a bogey, but came back by rolling in a 10-footer for birdie on No. 11.  After a bogey and double-bogey on No. 14 and No. 15, Heflin was solid the rest of the round playing her final 12 holes at one-under-par.  She stuck her wedges to within five feet for birdies on No. 18, No. 1 and No. 6.  Heflin carded a 2-over, 74, in round one with four birdies.  

•    In round two, Heflin was even-par through 10 holes with a 20-foot birdie on No. 12.  She closed the back nine with a four-over-par score over her final eight holes to finish with a 76.  Heflin is tied for 19th with a 150.  

•    After struggling with an 80 in round one, freshman Andie Smith responded with a 2-over-par, 74, in the afternoon.  She notched seven pars and three bogeys on her opening 10 holes, but closed with a 1-under-par score on her final eight holes.  Smith got her putter working on the par-3 fifth hole as she rolled in a 20-footer for birdie and then drained a 10-foot birdie on No. 6.  She carded five up-and-downs over the 36 holes.

•    In round one, Phoebe Brinker started the first nine holes at two-over, 38, but closed strong with birdies on No. 1…